Golf Field Day at Astbury Hall (28th Feb)
Fourteen Sixth Formers, together with Mr Schofield, Mr Joyce, Dr Foulger and parent Mr Major, headed to the exclusive Astbury Hall, near Bridgnorth, for a day of golf in the Spring sunshine. The day started well with hot bacon rolls and coffee in the beautiful home-cum-clubhouse ofowner K.K. Downing (lead guitarist of Judas Priest). After a welcome from the man himself we headed for the putting green and then to the first tee.
There was palpable anticipation, sprinkled with the a few nerves, before the first tee shot of the day that left the first fairway almost absent of pitch marks. However, the boys soon settled quickly to playing the challenging and rewarding golf course, but most of all having fun in the lovely surroundings and sunshine.
Each golf hole was interesting and many had an element of risk and reward about them. The greens tended to be tiered and fast even at this early stage of the season and protected by well-placed bunkers. The 18th hole was a great par 3 finishing hole with about 120 yards of lake separating tee and green.
A well-earned drink awaited us in the clubhouse after play had concluded, kindly supplied by Mr Major, that provided an opportunity to award a couple of prizes. The best pair, with a total of 60 Stableford points, were Daniel Legge (SH) and Charlie Bibby (SH); the overall individual winner with a very good return of 35 points was Max Hulse (I). The day concluded with a sumptuous supper before departing for Shrewsbury.
My thanks go to Dr Foulger, and Astbury Hall, for their assistance in the smooth organisation of ourgolf day and the boys for their good humour and comradeship. Mention must be made of the kind subsidy and support from the Old Salopian Golf Club (OSGC) through the secretary Tim Lewis.
Mark Schofield
(Master in Charge of Golf)